Ecclesiastes 6:1 (ESV)

Ecclesiastes 6:12 - For who knows what is good for man while he lives the few days of his vain[fn] life, which he passes like a shadow? For who can tell man what will be after him under the sun?

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Translations for Ecclesiastes 6:12

KJVKJV (read chapter in KJV)

For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?

NKJVNKJV (read chapter in NKJV)

For who knows what is good for man in life, all the days of his vain life which he passes like a shadow? Who can tell a man what will happen after him under the sun?

NLTNLT (read chapter in NLT)

In the few days of our meaningless lives, who knows how our days can best be spent? Our lives are like a shadow. Who can tell what will happen on this earth after we are gone?

NIVNIV (read chapter in NIV)

For who knows what is good for a person in life, during the few and meaningless days they pass through like a shadow? Who can tell them what will happen under the sun after they are gone?

ESVESV (read chapter in ESV)

For who knows what is good for man while he lives the few days of his vain[fn] life, which he passes like a shadow? For who can tell man what will be after him under the sun?

CSBCSB (read chapter in CSB)

For who knows what is good for anyone in life, in the few days of his futile life that he spends like a shadow? Who can tell anyone what will happen after him under the sun?

NASB20NASB20 (read chapter in NASB20)

For who knows what is good for a person during his lifetime, during the few [fn]years of his futile life? He will [fn]spend them like a shadow. For who can tell a person what will happen after him under the sun?

NASB95NASB95 (read chapter in NASB95)

For who knows what is good for a man during his lifetime, during the few [fn]years of his futile life? He will [fn]spend them like a shadow. For who can tell a man what will be after him under the sun?

LSBLSB (read chapter in LSB)

For who knows what is good for a man during his lifetime, during the few days of his vain life? He will make do with them like a shadow. For who can tell a man what will be after him under the sun?

AMPAMP (read chapter in AMP)

For who [[fn]limited by human wisdom] knows what is good for man during his lifetime, during the few days of his futile life? He spends them like a shadow [staying busy, but achieving nothing of lasting value]. For who can tell a man what will happen after him [to his work, his treasure, his plans] under the sun [after his life is over]?

NETNET (read chapter in NET)

For no one knows what is best for a person during his life - during the few days of his fleeting life - for they pass away like a shadow. Nor can anyone tell him what the future will hold for him on earth.

RSVRSV (read chapter in RSV)

For who knows what is good for man while he lives the few days of his vain life, which he passes like a shadow? For who can tell man what will be after him under the sun?

ASVASV (read chapter in ASV)

For who knoweth what is good for man in his life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?

YLTYLT (read chapter in YLT)

For who knoweth what is good for a man in life, the number of the days of the life of his vanity, and he maketh them as a shadow? for who declareth to man what is after him under the sun?

DBYDBY (read chapter in DBY)

For who knoweth what is good for man in life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell man what shall be after him under the sun?

WEBWEB (read chapter in WEB)

For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?

HNVHNV (read chapter in HNV)

For who knows what is good for man in life, all the days of his vain life which he spends like a shadow? For who can tell a man what will be after him under the sun?

VULVUL (read chapter in VUL)

[Vulgate 7:1] quid necesse est homini maiora se quaerere cum ignoret quid conducat sibi in vita sua numero dierum peregrinationis suae et tempore quo velut umbra praeterit aut quis ei poterit indicare quid post eum futurum sub sole sit

NAVNAV (read chapter in NAV)

إِذْ مَنْ يَدْرِي مَا هُوَ خَيْرٌ لِلإِنْسَانِ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الَّتِي يَقْضِي فِيهَا أَيَّاماً قَلِيلَةً بَاطِلَةً كَالظِّلِّ؟ وَمَنْ يَقْدِرُ أَنْ يُطْلِعَ الإِنْسَانَ عَلَى مَا سَيَحْدُثُ تَحْتَ الشَّمْسِ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ؟

WLCWLC (read chapter in WLC)

כִּ֣י מִֽי־יוֹדֵעַ֩ מַה־טּ֨וֹב לָֽאָדָ֜ם בַּֽחַיִּ֗ים מִסְפַּ֛ר יְמֵי־חַיֵּ֥י הֶבְל֖וֹ וְיַעֲשֵׂ֣ם כַּצֵּ֑ל אֲשֶׁר֙ מִֽי־יַגִּ֣יד לָֽאָדָ֔ם מַה־יִּהְיֶ֥ה אַחֲרָ֖יו תַּ֥חַת הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃

LXXLXX (read chapter in LXX)

ὅτι τίς οἶδεν τί ἀγαθὸν τῷ ἀνθρώπῳ ἐν τῇ ζωῇ ἀριθμὸν ἡμερῶν ζωῆς ματαιότητος αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐποίησεν αὐτὰς ἐν σκιᾷ ὅτι τίς ἀπαγγελεῖ τῷ ἀνθρώπῳ τί ἔσται ὀπίσω αὐτοῦ ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον

SVDSVD (read chapter in SVD)

لأَنَّهُ مَنْ يَعْرِفُ مَا هُوَ خَيْرٌ لِلإِنْسَانِ فِي الْحَيَاةِ، مُدَّةَ أَيَّامِ حَيَاةِ بَاطِلِهِ الَّتِي يَقْضِيهَا كَالظِّلِّ؟ لأَنَّهُ مَنْ يُخْبِرُ الإِنْسَانَ بِمَا يَكُونُ بَعْدَهُ تَحْتَ الشَّمْسِ؟

BESBES (read chapter in BES)

What advantage has a man? for who knows what is good for a man in his life, during the number of the life of the days of his vanity? and he has spent them as a shadow; for who shall tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?

RVR09RVR09 (read chapter in RVR09)

Porque ¿quién sabe cuál es el bien del hombre en la vida, todos los días de la vida de su vanidad, los cuales él pasa como sombra? Porque ¿quién enseñará al hombre qué será después de él debajo del sol?

RVR60RVR60 (read chapter in RVR60)

BBEBBE (read chapter in BBE)

Who is able to say what is good for man in life all the days of his foolish life which he goes through like a shade? who will say what is to be after him under the sun?

CHTCHT (read chapter in CHT)

人一生虛度的日子、就如影兒經過．誰知道甚麼與他有益呢．誰能告訴他身後在日光之下有甚麼事呢。

EMEM (read chapter in EM)

Porque, ¿quién sabe lo que es mejor para el hombre durante los contados días de su vana vida, los cuales él pasa como sombra? ¿Quién, pues, declarará al hombre qué habrá después de él debajo del sol?

KORKOR (read chapter in KOR)

헛된 생명의 모든 날을 그림자같이 보내는 일평생에 사람에게 무엇이 낙인지 누가 알며 그 신후에 해 아래서 무슨 일이 있을 것을 누가 능히 그에게 고하리요

LSLS (read chapter in LS)

Car qui sait ce qui est bon pour l'homme dans la vie, pendant le nombre des jours de sa vie de vanité, qu'il passe comme une ombre? Et qui peut dire à l'homme ce qui sera après lui sous le soleil?

LUTLUT (read chapter in LUT)

Denn wer weiß, was dem Menschen nütze ist im Leben, solange er lebt in seiner Eitelkeit, welches dahinfährt wie ein Schatten? Oder wer will dem Menschen sagen, was nach ihm kommen wird unter der Sonne?

RSTRST (read chapter in RST)

Ибо кто знает, что хорошо для человека в жизни, во все дни суетной жизни его, которые он проводит как тень? И кто скажет человеку, что будет после него под солнцем?

SESE (read chapter in SE)

Porque ¿quién sabe cuál es el bien del hombre en la vida, todos los días de la vida de su vanidad, los cuales el hace que sean como sombra? Porque ¿quién enseñará al hombre qué será después de él debajo del sol?

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ESV Footnotes

(6:12)

The Hebrew term hebel can refer to a “vapor” or “mere breath” (see note on 1:2)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version copyright © 2001, 2007, 2011, 2016, 2025 by Crossway Books and Bibles, a Publishing Ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

See detailed copyright information.

For more information on this translation, see the ESV Preface.

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Ecclesiastes Chapter 6 — Additional Translations:

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